English Reference

Word

reality

Phoneticsre·al·i·ty, stress on the second syllable

US/ˌɹiˈæɫəˌti/

UK/ɹɪˈælɪti/

Definitions

01the state of being real

B1 · Intermediate Uncountable noun

n. the way things truly are in the world, not just in your imagination or dreams.

n. the state or quality of being actual or real; the objective state of things as they exist.

“He had to face the reality that he didn't have enough money for the car.”

“The harsh reality of the economic situation forced the company to reconsider its expansion plans for the upcoming fiscal year.”

02the real world

B1 · Intermediate Uncountable noun

n. the actual world we live in, especially when compared to movies, books, or the internet.

n. the real world or the sum of all that is real, often contrasted with virtual or fictional environments.

“In reality, the job was much harder than it looked in the advertisement.”

“While the film depicts a glamorous lifestyle, the reality of working in the fashion industry involves long hours and intense pressure.”

Synonyms

existencethe world

Antonyms

virtual realitydreamworld

03a specific fact or event

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun

n. a fact or situation that is true and must be accepted.

n. a real entity, event, or fact; a specific circumstance that exists objectively.

“The loss of his job became a painful reality after he received the final letter.”

“The political realities of the region made it difficult for the two nations to sign a lasting peace treaty.”

Synonyms

04reality television

B1 · Intermediate Uncountable noun Informal

n. a type of television show that follows the real lives of people instead of using actors.

n. referring to a genre of television programming that documents unscripted real-life situations.

“She enjoys watching reality shows about people living on remote islands.”

“Critics argue that reality television often manipulates situations to create artificial drama for the sake of higher ratings.”

Synonyms

unscripted

Antonyms

Collocations

Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “reality” in context.

Noun

01. reality reflect

“The statistics do not always let the reality reflect the true situation on the ground.”

noun + verb

Real-World Examples

“We once talked about fake news; now it is reality itself that feels fake.”
The Guardian 6 May 2026
“Some companies tie AI to layoffs, but the reality is more complicated”
Associated Press 2 Feb 2026
“From seeing things to hearing voices, there’s a finer line between hallucination and reality than you might suppose”
The Guardian 10 Feb 2025
“Reality is more complex than we expected.”
The Atlantic 8 Sept 2026

Etymology

From French réalité (“quality of being real”), from Middle French realité (“property, possession”), from Medieval Latin reālitās, from Late Latin reālis (“real”), equivalent to real + -ity. Recorded since 1550 as a legal term in the sense of “fixed property” (compare real estate, realty); the sense “real existence” is attested from 1647. First attested in c. 1540.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Word family

NOUN

reality(B1)

ADJECTIVE

Idioms

Domain

Law

This entry

Exam level
CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
Frequency
Very common
Level
B1 · IntermediateOxford
Updated

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English Reference